Sherrill Police Chief James Hastings resumes duties

SHERRILL -- After a month's paid leave, Sherrill Police Chief James Hastings has returned to work.

"The City of Sherrill has concluded its review of the situation involving Chief Hastings' family," Bob Comis said in a press release Wednesday. "Based on our review of the facts available, the city has decided to return the chief to full duty immediately."

Comis would not release any information discovered during the city's investigation. New York State Police and Oneida County Child Protective Services are also investigating the methamphetamine overdose of Hastings' six-year-old grandson.

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Comis said the city's decision wasn't contingent on the results of other investigations.

"We did what we needed to do as a city," he said.

Comis said Sherrill residents have expressed their concerns both at public meetings and in private.

"Certainly people have expressed themselves to the city," he said. "So I think the citizens are looking to move forward and push the issue behind us."

Hastings was originally put on a paid leave of absence March 31 after city officials held two executive sessions. He has continued his position as the officer in charge at the Village of Vernon Police Department.

Hastings was barred from bringing his grandson into his home and denied unsupervised visits by a temporary family court order following the boy's Feb. 16 overdose and subsequent hospitalization.

The child was allegedly at Hastings' residence until 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15. His mother picked him up there and returned home with him. She reported that he woke up around 1 a.m. screaming and hallucinating. He was taken to Oneida Healthcare Center and later University Hospital where his hallucinations continued for more than 24 hours.

Further testing by the boy's father, Steven Sgarlata of Canastota, determined that it was not the child's first exposure to methamphetamine.

New York State Police Public Information Officer Jim Simpson said the investigation is ongoing with "no new developments."